Machine for forming and applying hood caps to bottles



Oct. 25, 1949. A. J. BRIGGS 2,485,252

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed Nov. 17, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 mgnnnnnnnpn IN VEN TOR.

flztimr 15119 6 BY fim 144 A. J. BRIGGS 2,486,252

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Oct. 25, 1949.

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1944 M 'UHH A. J. BRIGGS Oct. 25, 1949.

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 17, 1944 gwiw A Wax/vars.

Oct. 25, 1949. A. J. BRIGGS 2,436,252

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed Nov. 17, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 25, 1949. A. J. BRIGGS 2,485,252

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING HOOD CAPS To BOTTLES Filed Nov. 17, 1944 7 Sheefcs-Sheet 5 'iii lulllnv [75' 33 I 169 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 25, 1949.

A. J. BRIGGS MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING HOOD CAPS T0 BOTTLES Filed Nov. 17, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 25, 1949. A. J. BRIGGS 2,486,252

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING HOOD CAPS T0 BOTTLES Filed Nov. 17, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Eb 1i II E"=.1U INVENTOR- k' fluz' flrigy BY m WM Patented Oct. 25, 1949 MACHINE FOR, FORMING AND APPLYING HOOD CAPS T BOTTLES Arthur J. Briggs, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to William L. Hinds, Fayettevillc, N. Y.

Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,842

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for forming hood caps for bottles from flat disks of sheet material, and applying the formed hoods to the bottles.

The invention has as an object a machine .operable automatically through a cycle each' time a bottle is arranged in capping position to form a cup-shaped cap or hood from a flat disk of sheet material and apply the formed hood to the top of the bottle, and to press or form the skirt portion of the hood about the neck of the bottle. The hood thus applied may be self securing by means of an adhesive coating applied to the hood, or the hood may be secured to the bottle top by a subsequent operation as, for example, securing a flexible retaining band about the skirt of the hood as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,364,776, issued December 12, 1944, and of which this application is a continuation in part.

The invention has as a further object a machine of the type referred to including mechanism for successively removing fiat disks of sheet material from a supply magazine, forming the disks into hoods, and subsequently transferring the formed hoods to the tops of the bottles.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4-4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the disk magazine, disk transfer and hood transfer mechanisms.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view, with parts shown in section, of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view taken on substantially line 1-1, Figure -2, with parts omitted and parts 4 shown in section.

Figure 8 is a view taken on line 8-6, Figures 1 and 2, illustrating the arrangement of the disk transfer mechanism.

Figure 9 is a view of the hood forming and transfer mechanism taken on line 9-9, Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a view taken on line Ill-l0, Figure 5.

The machine is supported on a column 20 mounted on a suitable base 2|.

ping operation, the bottle is supported on a bottle support 22 which is arranged in the center of a table 23 carried by an arm 24 provided with a split hub 25 apertured to slidably receive the column 26 and which is retained against rotation thereon by a key 26. The hub 25 is clamped to the column by means of a hand bolt 21.

The hood forming and applying mechanism is arranged in or supported by a housing having end walls 30, 3|, a rear wall 32, and a top wall 33. This housing is secured to a gear housing 35 apertured to receive the column 26 and being likewise retained against rotation on the column by the key 26, and being clamped to the column as by hand bolt 36. The two housings are secured together as by bolts 38, and the housings are adjustable vertically on the column 20 by a screw 40 having threaded engagement with a nut 4| secured to the gear housing 35 and being journalled at its lower end in a bracket 41. The screw 46 is connected to a shaft 49 horizontally journalled in the bracket 41 by beveled gears 50, and the outer end of the shaft 49 is formed to receive a suitable crank. With this arrangement, relative axial movement can be effected between the table 23 and the upper housing carrying the hood forming and applying mechanism. Usually, the table 23 is arranged in the plane of the bottle conveyor extending from the bottle filling machine, and the upper housing is adjusted to accommodate bottles of different sizes, such as half pints, pints and quarts.

A drive motor is mounted on top ofthe gear housing 35 and is operatively connected to a shaft 56 journalled in the gear housing and provided with a worm meshing with a worm wheel 51. As shown, the motor is provided with a pulley 58, and the shaft 56 with a pulley 59, the drive being effected by a belt 60 trained over these pulleys.

The disk transfer, hood forming, hood transfer and applying mechanisms are operated from a shaft 62 journalled horizontally in the end walls 30, 3| of the supporting housing. A circular member 63 is keyed to the inner end of the shaft 82. The worm wheel 51 is mounted upon the member 63 and is connected thereto by a one revolution clutch which is tripped by the bottle B engaging the trip member 61. This trip member is carried by the table 23 and so positioned that when a bottle is placed upon the bottle support 22 in engagement with bottle positioning members 69, the side of the bottle will engage the trip 61 moving it radially outwardly, Figure During the cap- 55 4. The bottle trip is pivotally connected to one assaasa leg of a U-shaped member 13 iournalled stag opposite end, as at H, to the under side of the table. A link 12 is pivotally connected at one end is placed upon the bottle support 22 and moved into engagement with the bottle positioning members, the trip 31 is engaged which, in turn, effects tripping of the one revolution clutch, whereupon the shaft 32 makes one revolution which constitutes the cycle of the machine and which eflects transfer of a disk from the disk magazine, forming the disk into hood formation, and applying a hood to the top of the bottle.

The'hoods are formed from disks of thin sheet material such as paper, cellophane, plastic material, foil, etc. The disks D are arranged in stack formation in a tubular magazine 33 mounted upon the rear wall 32 of the housing, as by a clamp 3i. The lower end of the magazine 33 is opened and provided with a plurality of in-' wardly extending projections 33 to support the stack of disks. The disks are successively withdrawn from the bottom of the magazine by a disk transfer comprising a cylindrical member 33 mounted on a stem 33 which, in turn, is supported on an arm 31 secured to the lower end of a stem 38. The stem 33 is slidable vertically in a boss I30 formed adjacent the lower edge of the rear wall 32 of the housing and an aperture formed in the top wall 33.

A recessed collar I 3| is secured to the stem 93 to receive a fork I32 secured to a rod I33 arranged parallel to the stem 33 and slidably mounted in a boss I33 extending inwardly from the rear wall 32 and in the top wall 33, and being connected at its upper end to a link I33 which, in turn, is pivotally connected to an arm I33 secured to a horizontally arranged shaft I31 journalled in brackets formed in the top wall 33. A dependingarm I33 is securedto the opposite end of the shaft I31 and is provided at its lower end with a roller I33 engaging the cam I II.

An elongated pinion I I3 is secured to the upper end of the stem 38 and is engaged by gear teeth II3-formed on an oscillatable member II1. This member is oscillated by cam II3 secured to the outer end of the main shaft 32. A shaft I23 is Journalled in a boss I2I extending outwardly from the outer end wall 33 of the housing. An arm I22 is secured to the shaft I23 and provided at its free end with a roller engaging the cam II3. An arm I23 is secured to the opposite end of the shaft I23 and is pivotally connected at its upper end to a link I23. The opposite end of this link is pivotally connected to the osclllatable member II 1, see Figures 1 and 2. Thus, the member H1 is oscillated upon rotation of the main shaft 32 and likewise, the stem 33 is oscillated to move the disk transfer member 33 from a position in register with the bottom of the magazine 33 to a position in register with an annular hood forming member I23 secured to a bracket I21 depending from the housing as by screws I23 and, during this oscillating movement of the disk transfer, it is also moved vertically. The arrangement is such that when the disk transfer is moved into register with the stack 33 by cam II3, it is moved upwardly by cam I I3 to engage the lowermost disk in the stack formation. It is then permitted to descend, whereupon the stem 33 is oscillated to move the member 33, with a disk thereon, in register with the hood forming member I23,

'see Figures 5 and 6. Thereupon, the cam ill effects substantial elevation of the transfer member to move the member, with the disk thereon, upwardly through the hood forming member I23.

I The disk is retained on themember 33 during its transfer by means of vacuum effected as i'ollows: The stem 33 is formed with an aperture I33. The stem 33 is shouldered at its lower end and is secured to the arm 31 by a nut I3I formed with an aperture I32 extending radially inwardly.

and communicating with the aperture I33, see

Figure 9. The piston I33 is secured in a U-shaped bracket I33 secured to the housing as by screws I31 and depending therefrom. A cylinder I33 is secured to the lower end of a rod I33 slidably mounted in the upper porton of the bracket I33 and which, at its upper end, is connected to a lever MI by a link I32. The lever I" is provided at its outer end with a roller I33 engaging a cam I33. The cam effecting upward movement of the stem I33 and the cylinder I33 carried thereby. thus creating a vacuum on the top of the stationary piston I33. The piston is formed with an aperture I33 which is connected to' the aperture I32 by means of a flexible conduit I33.

The arrangement of the cam I33 relative to the cam III! is such that when the stem 33 is elevated by the shorter lobe I31 of cam II3 to move the disk transfer 33 into engagement with the bottom disk in the magazine 33, the lobe of cam I33 effects upward movement of the cylinder I33 to thereby apply vacuum through the stem 93, and the vacuum is maintained while the disk transfer is lowered and moved into register with compression spring I33, see Figure 6. When the parts are in this position, the larger lobe of cam II3 effects substantial upward movement of the disk transfer, whereupon the marginal portion of the disk 'is clamped between the annular forming member I23 and the flange I23 of the cup member I33. Further upward movement of the member 33 through the member I23 causes the disk to be drawn into hood form, as indicated in Figure 9. The purpose of the serrations I33, I3I, is to effect a uniform gathering of the material in the skirt of the hood during the forming operation. The formed hood is moved upwardly through a hood transfer member which consists of a turret having a hub portion I33 secured to the lower end of a shaft I33, as by screw I31. The hub I33 is formed with three radially extending arms I33 equally spaced circumferentially and each carrying an annular member I33. A plurality of forming fingers I33 are mounted in each of the members I33 and are spring pressed radially outwardly. The marginal portion of each of the members I33 about the central aperture thereof is recessed as at I32, see Figure 9. The bottom wall of this recess is formed with circumferentially spaced apart notches in which the forming fingers I30 are mounted. These fingers are moved radially inwardly by an annular member I64 formed with a tapered central aperture which, upon downward movement of the member I64, is cooperable to cam the fingers I60 radially inwardly.

Normally, the annular member I64 and the fingers I60 are in the position shown in Figure 9, whereupon when the disk has been formed into the hood H and moved upwardly through the annular members I59. The skirt portion of the hood yieldingly springs outwardly and rests upon the bottom of the shouldered recess I62 and is accordingly retained in the member I59 during downward movement of the disk transfer 95.

With the formed hood thus positioned in one of the members I59 arranged above the forming member I26, the shaft I56 is rotatedto index the turret to bring that member I59 to the hood applying position indicated at I10, Figure 5. This indexing is accomplished in the following manner:

The upper end of the shaft I56 has secured to it a cylindrical member I15 and an inverted cylindrical cup shaped member I16 is loosely journalled on the upper end of the shaft and is provided with a pinion gear I11 arranged to mesh with the oscillating member I I1, see Figure 2. A

pawl I18 is mounted in the member I15, the free end of the pawl being spring pressed outwardly by helical compression spring I19 to engage notches I80 formed in the inner surface of the member I16, see Figure 5. Accordingly, when the member H1 is oscillated in a counterclockwise direction by cam I I8, the pinion I11 is rotated in a clockwise direction and, in like manner, the member I15 and shaft I56 are rotated in a clockwise direction, see Figure 5. to index the member I59, with the formed hood therein, to the hood applying position I10, and in this position it is above and in axial alinement with the bottle B positioned on the bottle support 22.

In order that the member I59 may be thus accurately positioned. the under side of the member I15 is provided with notches I83, there being one notch for each of the three members I59, and the notches being also axially spaced circumferentially. A pin I84 is slidably mounted in the top wall 33 of the housing and the upper end of the pin is shaped to engage the notches I83 when the pin is in its up position. A pair of links I85, I86 are pivoted at like ends to the housing, and these ends are connected by complemental gear teeth I81. The free end of the link I85 is connected to the lower end of the pin I84, and the free end of the link I86 is arranged in the path of movement of a pin I81 carried on an arm I88 secured to and rotatable with the main cam shaft 62. The pin is normally maintained in up Position by spring I89 secured at one end to the housing and at its opposite end to the link I85, Figure 7.

The arrangement is such that just prior to the movement of the oscillating member II1, the pin I81 engages link I 86 causing the pin I84 to be moved downwardly out of the notch I83. Immediately thereupon, the member I I1 is oscillated by cam II8 initiating the indexing of shaft I56, and when the indexing has been completed, the pin I84 is moved into the next succeeding notch I 83 by spring I89. The oscillating member H1 is returned to normal position by a spring I90, Figure 2.

Relative axial movement is now efl'ected between the bottle on the support 22 and the hood transfer turret to apply the formed hood on the top of the bottle. As here shown, the bottle is I which the 'rod 2I0 slides.

elevated to accomplish this purpose. The bottle support 22 is mounted upon a stem I92 slidably mounted in a bracket I93 depending from the under side of the table 23. A shaft I94 is Journailed at one end in a bracket I95 also carried by the table 28, and is journalled at its opposite end in the hub portion 25 of the table support. A shaft I96 is mounted vertically adjacent the column 20, being journalled at its upper end in the gear housing 35 and at its lower end in the hub portion 25 of the table support. The shafts I 94, I96 are provided with intermeshing gears I 98, I99, and the upper end of the shaft I98 is provided with a gear 200 meshing with a gear 20I secured to the end of the cam shaft 62.

The outer end of the shaft I94 is provided with a cam 202 which, upon rotation of the shaft I 94,

is arranged to effect-upward movement of the bottle support 22. The arrangement is such that after the hood turret has been indexed to position a formed hood H over the bottle, the cam 202 effects elevation of the bottle support and the bottle thereon, causing the top of the bottle to move upwardly through the member I59 and simultaneously, the formed hood to be positioned on the top of the bottle.

When the top of the bottle has engaged the top portion of the formed hood, the annular member I64 is moved downwardly causing the fingers I60 to be cammed radially inwardly. Each of the members I64 is mounted upon an arm 205 secured to a rod 206 slidably mounted in the hub portion I55 of the hood turret. Each of the rods 206 is formed with an enlarged head portion 201, and a helical compression spring 208 is arranged between the head 201 and the hub portion of the turret, whereby the rods 208 and the members I 64 carried thereby are normally mounted in upward position, as shown in Figure 9. The rods 206 and the members I64 are moved downwardly, as previously stated, by

a rod 2I0 slidably mounted in the'main housing of the machine, it being provided with a forwardly extending arm 2 provided with a roller 2I2 to engage a cam 2I3. The rod is normally maintained in up position by helical compression spring 2I4 interposed between the arm 2 and the bottom wall of the housing through When the elongated lobe of cam 2I3 engages the roller 2I2, the arm 2 and the rod 2I0 are moved downwardly, the lower end of the rod engaging the upper end of rod 206 causing downward movement of the annular cam faced member I64 which, in turn, causes the fingers I60 to move inwardly ironing and pressing the hood about the top of the bottle, see Figures 7 and 10. Previous to the descent of the bottle B, the member I64 is moved upwardly permitting the fingers I60 to move outwardly in the position shown in Figure 9.

To better apply the hood to the bottle top, a presser foot 2I5 may be employed. The presser foot, see Figures 7 and 10, is formed with an elongated hollow stem portion 2I6 slidably mounted upon a stem 2I8 depending from a forwardly extending bracket 2I9. The upper portion of the stem 2I6 is encircled by a tubular member 220 provided at its upper end with a roller 22I engaged by a cam 222. The forward side of the upper portion of member 220 is apertured to slidably receive a pin 225 also secured to the bracket 2I9 and which serves to prevent rotation of the presser foot about the stem 2I8.

A helical compression spring 226 is secured at one end to the top wall of the housing 33, and

ajasaass at its opposite end to the member I" normally maintaining it in up position. The upper end of the hollow stem 2|! engages the upper end of the member 220, thereby limiting the downward movement of the stem 2" relative to the member 220, and the stem 2i is maintained in the extended position by helical compression spring 228 encircling the stem lit and being interposed between the presser foot 2|! and the lower end of the member 220. This arrangement is such that when the bottle engages the hood, the member 220 and the presser foot 2|! are lowered by cam 2i: to bring the presser foot into engagement with the top of the hood, as shown in Figure 10. Further upward movement of the bottle effects compression of the spring 228. This arrangement is desirable where hood is to be sealed to the bottle by a retaining member before the bottle is moved downwardly.

The presser foot is not necessary where the hood is sealed to the bottle by an adhesive coating, or by other means such as applying a rubber band about the skirt of the hood.

It will be observed that the machine described is particularly compact and simple in operation, and functions to automatically form hood caps from a stack of flat, thin, disks,

What I claim is:

1. A machine for applying hood caps to bottles comprising a tubular magazine arranged to support a plurality of thin, flexible disks in stack formation, a cap transfer member, a cap forming member, a disk transfer member, mechanism for moving said latter member into engagement with said stack formation and thereafter effecting movement of said member to transfer a disk from said stack formation to said cap forming member, said disk transfer member being cooperable with said cap forming member to form the disk into hood cap form and position the formed cap in said cap transfer member, a bottle support, mechanism operable to move said cap transfer member to position the formed cap above the top of a bottle positioned on said bottle support, and means operable to effect relative axial movement between the bottle support and said cap transfer member to position the cap on the top of the bottle.

2. A machine for applying hood caps to bottles comprising means for supporting a supply of thin, flexible disks in stack formation, a bottle support, a cap transfer member, a cap forming member, a disk transfer member operable to transfer a disk from said supply and being cooperable with said cap forming member to form said disk into hood cap form and to position the formed cap in said cap transfer member with the skirt of the cap depending downwardly, said cap transfer member being operable to position the formed cap in axial alinement above the bottle on said bottle support, and means operable to effect relative axial movement between the bottle support and said cap transfer member to position the cap on the top of the bottle.

3. A machine for forming and applying hood caps to bottles comprising a magazine for supporting a supply of thin, flexible disks in stack formation, a bottle support, a cap transfer member, a cap forming member, means operable to transfer a disk from said magazine and being operable with said cap applying member to form said disk into hood cap form and to position the formed cap with the skirt portion depending in said cap transfer member, said cap transfer the formed cap above a bottle on said bottle support, means operable to effect relative axial movement between the bottle support and said cap transfer member to position the cap on the top of the bottle, and means carried by said cap transfer member and movable into engagement with the skirt portion of the cap when the same is positioned on the bottle to press said skirt portion about the top of the bottle.

4. A machine for forming and applying hood caps to bottles comprising a bottle support, a cap transfer member, a cap forming member, a magazine for supporting a supply of thin, flexible disks in stack formation, a disk transfer member operable to transfer successive disks from said magazine and being operable with the cap forming member to form said disks into hood cap form and to position the formed cap in said cap transferv member with the skirt portion of the cap depending downwardly, said cap transfer member being operable to transfer the formed cap to a position above the top of a bottle on said bottle support, means operable to eifect relative axial movement between the bottle support and said cap transfer member to position the cap on the top of the bottle, an annular series of flngers carried by said cap transfer member and being movable into engagement with the skirt portion of the cap to iron said portion about the top of the bottle, and means operable to effect movement of said flngers.

5. A machine for forming and applying hood caps to bottles comprising a bottle support, a magazine arranged to support a plurality of disks formed of thin, flexible sheet material in stack formation, a cap forming member and a cap transfer member, means operable to withdraw the lowermost disk from said magazine and being cooperable with said cap forming member to form said disk into hood cap form and to position the formed cap in said cap transfer member with the skirt portion of the cap depending, said cap transfer member being operable to transfer the formed cap to a position in axial alinement above a bottle on said bottle support, means operable to effect relative axial movement between said cap transfer member and the bottle support to apply the formed cap to the top of the bottle, and means carried by the cap transfer member to yieldingly engage the skirt portion of the cap and contract the same about the top of the bottle.

6. A machine for forming and applying hood caps to bottles comprising a suitable frame, a bottle support, a tubular magazine for supporting a supply of disks formed of thin, flexible material, a cap forming member, a cap transfer member movable from a position in register with said cap forming member to a position in register with abottle positioned on said bottle support, a disk transfer member movable from a position in register with said magazine to a position in register with said cap forming member, power operated means operable when a bottle is positioned on said bottle support to cause said disk transfer member to transfer a disk from said supply to said cap forming member and in conjunction therewith to form said disk into hood cap form, and to position the formed cap in said cap transfer member, and said power means further effecting movement of said cap transfer member to position the formed cap in register with said bottle and to subsequently effect relamember being subsequently operable to position tive axial movement between the cap transfer member and said bottle support to position the formed cap on the top of the bottle.

7. A machine for applying hood caps to bottles comprising a. magazine for supporting a plurality of disks in stack formation, a cap transfer turret provided with a plurality of cap receiving apertures, a cap forming member, a bottle support, indexing mechanism operable to effect rotation of said cap turret and when said turret is at rest to position one of the cap receiving apertures in alinement with said cap forming member, and another of said apertures in alinement with said bottle support. a disk transfer member movable back and forth from a position in alinement with said cap forming member to a position in aiinement with said magazine, motion transmitting means operable to move said disk transfer member in register with said magazine, effect upward movement thereof to engage said stack formation, and downward to remove the lowermost disk of said formation and to return said member in'register with the. cap forming member,

A 10 said motion transmitting mechanism being further operable to efiect movement of said disk transfer member toward said cap forming member to form the disk into hood cap form and to move the formed cap into the alined aperture in said cap transfer member, said indexing mechanism being subsequently operable to move said aperture in register with the bottle support, and means effecting relative axial movement between the bottle support and the cap transfer member to position the formed cap on the top of the bottle.

ARTHUR J. BRIGGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Baule Mar. 30, 1943 Disclaimer 2,486,252.A1-. hur J. Briggs, Syracuse, N. Y. MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING H001) CAPS 'ro BOTTLES. Patent dated Oct. 25, 1949. Disclaimer filed Dec. 28, 1953, by the assignee, T-Vz'ZZiam L. Hinds. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 to 7 inclusive, of said patent.

[Ofiicial Gazette February 9, 1.954.] 

